Togar Claims Right of Reply Was Pursued Before Suing Four Media Outlets for Rp 25 Billion
The legal team of Togar Situmorang has stated that it pursued the right of reply and right of correction mechanisms before filing a civil lawsuit worth Rp 25 billion against four media companies in Bali.
The lawsuit is registered at the Denpasar District Court under case number 958/Pdt.G/2026/PN Dps. The four media companies named as defendants are PT Bali Intermedia Digital, PT Artha Media Fajar Bali Utama Press, PT Bali Warta Kencana, and PT Mangupura Inter Media.
One of Togar’s lawyers, Rinto Maha, said his side did not immediately take the reporting dispute to court. According to him, Togar’s team first pursued mechanisms related to press dispute resolution.
“We did not suddenly file a lawsuit. We first went to the Press Council, we wrote a letter,” Rinto said on Tuesday (18/8/2026).
According to Rinto, his side had submitted a right of reply or right of correction regarding the reporting in question. The complaint was then brought to the Press Council to obtain guidance or recommendations.
“To this day, the guidance and recommendations from the Press Council have not been complied with by the defendants. That is our conclusion,” he said.
Rinto stressed that the lawsuit is not directed at all journalists or media outlets. According to him, Togar’s side continues to respect journalistic work, but takes issue with reporting from certain media outlets deemed unbalanced.
“We have great respect for the media. We are not confronting all journalists or all media,” he said.
However, the four media companies hold a different view regarding the right of reply.
The defendants’ lawyer, I Made Ariel Suardana, previously said a right of reply had been granted to Togar’s side following a formal notice. According to Ariel, the Press Council recommendation cited by Togar’s side constitutes guidance or a recommendation, not an ethical ruling declaring the media guilty.
“When there was a formal notice, the right of reply was already granted. Only after that was a complaint filed with the Press Council,” Ariel said.
A similar statement was made during a consolidation meeting of the Bali Journalists Solidarity (SJB). The defendants said Togar had been granted a right of reply, meaning the principle of balance in reporting had been fulfilled.
Meanwhile, the SJB assessed that disputes concerning journalistic products should be resolved through the mechanisms set out in Law Number 40 of 1999 on the Press, including the right of reply, right of correction, and resolution through the Press Council.
The differing views on whether a right of reply was granted and properly fulfilled now form part of the dispute between Togar and the four media companies.